I'm heading to Boston next Thursday. What are the must see things? We'll be there for the weekend. Taking in a game at Fenway on Saturday. Any advice gladly welcome!

thanks in advance

If you like history, the Freedom Trail is fairly short. You can also go to the top of Bunker Hill. One of my 5th great-grandfathers fought there with three of his brothers. (That was actually at Breed's Hill, in case you don't know.)

_________________I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. - Douglas Adams (1952 - 2001)

Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.

Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he'll never be able to drive in New Jersey.

For fish and especially clam chowder, find a Legal Sea Food restaurant. For food in general, the Seaport district is pricey but very good. Lively nightlife in the area. Boston Beer Works across from Fenway on Brookline Ave is a decent microbrewery/restaurant. For real ambiance at the park, wander around the outside and partake of one of the sausage and pepper sandwiches.

Walking the Freedom Trail is a must if you're at all historically inclined. It'll take you around the city and into various well-known areas such as the North End and the Marketplaces (see below). You can walk it yourself (You can pick up information at the Boston Common Visitor Center on Tremont Street). If you want a guided walking tour, try Boston By Foot (www.bostonbyfoot.org). They're a non-profit group, all the tour guides are volunteers and you'll get more background about everything. They have more than just Freedom Trail tours, but some don't start until May.

If you want to do some real touristy things, head to the Public Gardens (just west of the Common across Charles Street) and ride the swan boats. If you have kids, take them to see the "Make Way For Ducklings" statues on the north side of the Public Garden near the intersection of Beacon St and Charles St. (If you recall the story, the ducks waddled down Charles St). The Duck Boats (large amphibious vehicles that drive around and then sail on the Charles River) are okay, but not my cup of tea. YMMV. I'm a bit jaded since I've lived near Boston all my life. Other touristy areas are Quincy Market and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

It all pretty much depends on your interests. Boston has just about everything you'd want for tourism if you know where to look. Let me know what you'd like.

_________________"Part of the time we have to worry, between elections, about the country's government" - Tom Foley, Speaker of the House, after being criticized by Democrats in his own caucus for being "insufficiently partisan"

Nix any notion of having a car in Boston. You don't want to be driving or parking.You can get around anywhere on the subway (MBTA).

Spend a couple hours in and around Harvard Square- it's about 5 miles from downtown Boston. It's a pretty lively place.

Parking is very much a serious issue in Boston proper. The problem with driving around the city is that the streets often follow old cow paths or property borders from the 1700s. GW, who is from Wichita KS, wouldn't try it for over five years after we got married. Our running gag was: Me - Well, you go straight on [name of street], then ... GW (interrupting) - There is no straight street in Boston! And forget about north/south/east/west. There are highways where you can go from Rte. X North to Rte. Y South without having to turn the wheel or take an exit ramp.

People watching is excellent at Harvard Square. When I worked in the area years ago, I'd spend occasional lunch breaks just standing on a corner and looking around.

_________________"Part of the time we have to worry, between elections, about the country's government" - Tom Foley, Speaker of the House, after being criticized by Democrats in his own caucus for being "insufficiently partisan"